Readers' comments

In Pakistan politicians keep blaming Army Generals that they capture the governments as a matter of fact in Pakistan politicians do not know how peace fully run the democratic governments ,they want to do the corruption and gone abroad countries doing all corruption in the past they think that they are angels and when they abroad the keep blaming generals that they have occupy the government , because of that middle class man and poor man is facing in almost every field of life as a nation we want to live peacefully with India and everybody

Loathing Musharraf’s military dictatorship I became a member of PPP as it was the only truly national party and it espoused democracy. Since the death of Benazir Bhutto sadly the party appears to have been hijacked by the unscrupulous Zardari and his corrupt coterie of friends. (Zardari is a man who, among other things, has openly admitted that his promises and signed commitments are not worth anything – neither being ‘Quran nor Hadees' as he so shamelessly puts it. Like many others I have quietly parted company with the PPP as it is no longer stands for democratic or any other principle for that matter. Instead what we are now witnessing is a case of political hogs at the trough trying to rake in as much money as they can before they are shown the door. It is clearly time for Pakistanis to get rid of the polluted Dogar Court and support the lawyers in their bid to get an independent judiciary for the country. The return of the generals will be an absolute disaster. Too many years of martial law – Zia, Musharraf et al – have only emboldened the generals’ favourite allies, the brain dead mullahs.

Author writes:"He (Sharif) did not add the particular reason why he wants Mr Chaudhry back : to scrap changes Mr Musharraf made to the constitution, which at present forbid him from becoming prime minister for a third time."How an ignorant statement it is: this is not the matter of Mr Sharif but a matter of principles, it is widely accepted, both legally and publicly, that Mr Chaudhry was deposed by Musharraf illegally by a Marshal Law because he wanted supreme court decisions in his favour. How can one forget that people voted for both political parties last year, against Musharraf's party, on the issue of Mr Chaudhry as Chief Justice.so mr sharif does not have to "add a particular reason" for his favour.

Presently Pakistan is surrounded by twin problems.First the global economic shock waves & second the political chaos that is product of long term jealousies,double standards and lust for power.Both big parties PML and PPP are no excetion for bad governance,They have a repressive history in common.Gen.Musharraf toppled Nawaz sharif by fits of anger when he was removed by the latter and it is the real case.it makes Mr Sharif & his party the victim of high handedness.Whether it is Pak army or ppp they have unfortunately trampled state constitution that has already lost its real face.

Here is a broken Islamic paramilitry state created by the CIA and MI5(to counter india's 'non alignment' then)armed with nukes; the question is are the Israelis going to bomb it before more is exported? I doubt it even if it could reach it by air without overflying neighbouring countries.Its sister state Bangladesh with a population of only 160 million is already seathing (see paramilary mutiny).
It has moreover already tactically recognised Sharia in its Taliban sympathetic provinces. Whether 'moral'or any other foreign policy now: keep praying Tony Blair and Barak Obama. In the meantime not a word in the Economist - it must be embarassing.
An ancient Greek in London

Pakistan's history is of intrigues and conspiracies. It started right after it was born and still continuing. The Political parties need wash their hnds clean to get it right. Unfortunately none is optimistic that it will happen.

pakistan is facing the worst ever rule under the Asif zardari who is internationally reknown as mr 10% for his corruption.He is a curse for the great legacy of Zulfiqar ali Bhuttoo and the marture BB.By his act now he has exposed himself as incapable leader who can run the greatest PPP.it is now high time to handover it to the Zulfaqar Junior who is the real cutadian of Bhuttoism.

The idea to emulating China seems pretty bright. However, you will notice that China's military does not command 40% or more of Chinese government's budget. Pakistani military on the other hand, gobbles up 40% of Pakistani budget, according to official accounts. You can be sure that the numbers are even higher. This leaves little room for spending on education, healthcare, infrastructure. So, no matter who is in charge, the military or civilain government, the governance can not improve, so long as military spending isn't reduced to sane levels.

Pakistan doesnt need and cannot afford democracy. Sharif brothers after hair transplants (buy one get one free) are still stupid and become more so, and Zardari what can I say likes women and money, are at the helm of this poor country. Pakistan required to follow the chinese model of dictatorship and a free market economy, and western democracy should stay away from dictating democratic values. The country is facing a nightmare, after what the west has forced Musharaff to give amenesty and pardon to te corrupt politicians in the form of NRO.

They way Zardari has hamstrunged democratic institutions does not bode well for the fledgling democracy in Pakistan. On top, the american legitimicy to Zardari's action will only fractionalise Pakistan's politics to inimical effects.

@PakDemocrate
you said"It is clearly time for Pakistanis to get rid of the polluted Dogar Court and support the lawyers in their bid to get an independent judiciary for the country"
Idependent Judiciary, exactly I would support but not the Sharif Court, reinstating Chaudy Iftikhar. I m myself a JIYALA, but for what cause? to ZARDARI? or the other selfish leader like Salman Taseer, Nayik ot Dr,BABER? Never. The supporters of PPP or workers are now cool! How I could believe the slogan of President Zadari "Changing System". The PPP is the only moedrate liberal democratic forum for the Pakistani nation for the peoples of Pakistan, but what is the dark fate of the this party.... no leader after the assisnation of Shaheed benazir Bhutto. Will the workers or the emotional Jiyala will turns to PML-N? never, this is a group of rediculous fandmentalist or conspirators. Punjab trust Sharif brothers, but they are stupid, uneducated. Does pakistan tolrate democracy, yes. Because we havn't seen the democracy in its true essence from the days of its birth. The Idiot dictators rulled the country more then 35years, the rest was under the seige of army establishment. People of Pakistan are mature now, the country need independent and strong judiciary, rule of law, strong parlimentary system,vis a vis.At the time people of Pakistan need some other true leader like OBAMA, with new slogan. Pakistani soft side with PML-N is natural because the media got newly freedom in Pakistan, and they want making score against each other not showing the ture side. Protesting are on the go but very few youg childs are hired for this purpose. Is this the Pakistani civilized nation? no

Like all liberal democrat Pakistan lovers sympathetic to Pakistan People's Party of ZAB, I wish the biggest pro-poor and liberal political platform of Pakistan comes to reform and survives against odds by getting rid of toddy opportunists like Zardari and Salman Taseer. It's high time sensible elements in this great political force, which is the only hope of downtrodden, minorities, women and all oppressed sections of Pakistan, come forward and save PPP from the clutches of opportunists. Time is of the essense. Something needs to be done soon otherwise this wonderful platform will be lost to the liberal democrats of Pakistan. Come forward enlightened, selfless and conscientious PPP jyalas and save your party from opportunists.

PML Q and Musharraf rule was a good period. Only the brain dead CJ got all lordy. Pakistan does not need idealistic democracy, look at China buying up the world resources, without being run by a democracy. PPP and PML N are just power seekers not saviours.lol, some idiot does not know anything about pakistan history, "counter India" MI5 and CIA forsaw cold war before WW2 and before creation of modern India?